A couple become engaged during a New Year’s Eve celebration on The Strip, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019.
Published Monday, Dec. 31, 2018 | 5 p.m.
Updated Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019 | 7:23 a.m.
Welcome to 2019.
Las Vegas again successfully hosted one of the world’s most notable New Year’s Eve celebrations, with more than 300,000 revelers on the Las Vegas Strip for “America’s Party” and officials reporting no major incidents.
There was plenty of rejoicing, especially those kisses between loved ones — and a few strangers — when the clock struck midnight to usher in the new year. There were also attendees in wacky costumes and those in 2019 apparel, visitors from all corners of the world and even a few marriage proposals.
And, most important, the party went off without significant conflict. Metro Police, who had officers situated on all parts of the Strip and in downtown, reported no major incidents. Officials said five were transported from the Strip to the hospital — two were drug-related, one alcohol, one person fainted and one transport was for a mental issue.
Police will release figures, including DUI arrests from across the valley, later Tuesday.
While people milled about the Strip, dancing and partying as they awaited the annual midnight fireworks show, more revelers gathered at the Fremont Street Experience, where they braved chilly temperatures and listened to bands under downtown's video canopy.
Strip partiers hooted and hollered, wore eyeglasses shaped into the numerals 2019 and sipped on drinks from oversized cups. Some took the extra step of wearing costumes.
Road restrictions for the New Year’s Eve celebration started with Interstate 15 exit ramps closing at Tropicana Avenue and Flamingo and Spring Mountain roads in anticipation of tens of thousands of people making their way to the Strip to celebrate.
All moving walkways, elevators and escalators on the Strip were shut down by 7 p.m. as pedestrians began gathering on the street for the party to usher in 2019. Road and walkways were functioning as normal by 3:30 a.m.
Officials estimated more than 300,000 people gathered for the celebration anchored by an 8-minute fireworks show, while thousands more convened in the downtown Las Vegas entertainment district to enjoy live music. And for those who opted to head into 2019 indoors, Lady Gaga, Celine Dion, Gwen Stefani and other stars helped them do so in proper form at different venues along the world-famous corridor.
New Year’s Eve was worth an estimated $403.1 million to the city, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. The agency responsible for promoting Las Vegas expected 318,000 people to travel to the city for the holiday and projected that 97 percent of the city’s more than 147,000 hotel rooms would be booked.
The theme for this year’s firework show was “Vegas Nights.” Organizers sought to emulate the sense of excitement of an evening in Las Vegas with fireworks in rich purple, green, gold and cherry red hues.
At the ticketed, lower-key celebration in downtown Las Vegas, 12 bands played at four stages set up along the Fremont Street entertainment district. Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman led a celebratory midnight toast.
Federal agents and local police, meanwhile, were out in force, with teams of police stationed inside most major casinos on the Strip, plainclothes officers in the crowd and snipers keeping an eye on things from rooftops. Officials are also banning backpacks, ice chests, strollers and glass items from the street celebrations as a safety measure.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
